Keeping Sept 11th in Our Hearts and Minds
I had the opportunity, some would probably say "the unfortunate opportunity" to watch the movie World Trade Center on Saturday evening. I was not prepared for the barrage of emotions that I felt while watching it. I think all of us can remember where we were and what we felt when we heard what had happened on that fateful day--that this great nation had been attacked. I think we can remember feeling so frantic as discombobulated news came in bits and pieces to us. I remember trying to get onto CNN and other online news sites, along with millions of other folks who were at work and had no access to TV.
I was on my way to work when the first plane hit. I was listening to a song on a new album by the group Out of the Grey. The song was simply called, "Brave". I don't know what I thought I was going through on that beautiful morning that I needed to be brave about; I certainly did not think something as horrible as a terrorist attack was taking place. The chorus of the song goes, "You make me brave, you make me strong. I am not afraid. You've been here all along. In my weakness, You're my strength, and my song. You make me brave." By the time the second plane hit, my co-worker, Callie, was telling us they were beginning to call it a terrorist act. [Funny how the media is so quick to label something NOT a terrorist attack these days.]
To many, 9-11-01 is a distant memory--one they would rather bury in a grave, a grave they would never visit. After watching that movie and feeling those emotions all over again, just like it was yesterday, I'm convinced we need to do more to keep that memory alive. I am not a Catholic, but that service today with the Pope at the World Trade Center was very riveting. He prayed for those who are still suffering because of what happened at this "place of incredible violence and pain" and prayed for peace in the world. I must say, my respect for him rose. The fact that it was live on many media outlets is another blessing. If you didn't see it and want to read a transcript of his prayer, go here: http://www.wnbc.com/news/15937320/detail.html
Since 2002, I have felt that we need to make Sept 11 a holiday, a national day of remembrance and mourning. I believe the media should replay the footage, play the World Trade Center movie, anything related with that so that people don't forget. And there should be services held at Ground Zero like the one the Pope held.
Thankfully, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I found a petition online for making Sept 11th a "Unification" day. (I don't know if I totally agree with that title. I don't want to be unified at all with the people who caused this tragedy. They still want to kill us.) Here is the petition, though, if you want to sign it. http://www.petitiononline.com/1105/ There may be other petitions, but this was the first one that popped up on Google.
I will end with some of the Pope's prayer:
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Feel free to share your thoughts about anything in this post. That's why I blogged it. And remember to always live above the news.
I was on my way to work when the first plane hit. I was listening to a song on a new album by the group Out of the Grey. The song was simply called, "Brave". I don't know what I thought I was going through on that beautiful morning that I needed to be brave about; I certainly did not think something as horrible as a terrorist attack was taking place. The chorus of the song goes, "You make me brave, you make me strong. I am not afraid. You've been here all along. In my weakness, You're my strength, and my song. You make me brave." By the time the second plane hit, my co-worker, Callie, was telling us they were beginning to call it a terrorist act. [Funny how the media is so quick to label something NOT a terrorist attack these days.]
To many, 9-11-01 is a distant memory--one they would rather bury in a grave, a grave they would never visit. After watching that movie and feeling those emotions all over again, just like it was yesterday, I'm convinced we need to do more to keep that memory alive. I am not a Catholic, but that service today with the Pope at the World Trade Center was very riveting. He prayed for those who are still suffering because of what happened at this "place of incredible violence and pain" and prayed for peace in the world. I must say, my respect for him rose. The fact that it was live on many media outlets is another blessing. If you didn't see it and want to read a transcript of his prayer, go here: http://www.wnbc.com/news/15937320/detail.html
Since 2002, I have felt that we need to make Sept 11 a holiday, a national day of remembrance and mourning. I believe the media should replay the footage, play the World Trade Center movie, anything related with that so that people don't forget. And there should be services held at Ground Zero like the one the Pope held.
Thankfully, I'm not the only one who feels this way. I found a petition online for making Sept 11th a "Unification" day. (I don't know if I totally agree with that title. I don't want to be unified at all with the people who caused this tragedy. They still want to kill us.) Here is the petition, though, if you want to sign it. http://www.petitiononline.com/1105/ There may be other petitions, but this was the first one that popped up on Google.
I will end with some of the Pope's prayer:
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Feel free to share your thoughts about anything in this post. That's why I blogged it. And remember to always live above the news.
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